Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
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No 70 (Army Co-Operation Training) Group
This was formed as No.70 (Army Co-operation Training & Development) Group at Farnborough on 25 November 1940 from parts of No 22 (Army Co-operation) Group in Fighter Command. It was transferred to Army Co-operation Command on its formation on 1 December 1940. When Army Co-operation Command was disbanded it was transferred to ADGB on 1 June 1943 and disbanded on 17 July 1945.
Air Officers Commanding
1 Dec 1940 A/Cdre J B Cole-Hamilton
21 Nov 1941 A/Cdre C E V Porter
28 Nov 1942 G/C H R McL Reid (SASO/Acting AOC)
12 Jul 1943 A/Cdre H B Russell
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
No 71 (Army Co-Operation ) (Operational) Group
This was formed at Farnborough on 25 November 1940 from parts ofNo 22 (Army Co-operation) Group in Fighter Command, but was transferred to Army Co-operation Command on 1 December 1940. The Air Staff relocated to an Advanced HQ at St Paul's School. Hammersmith, leaving a Rear HQ with the Admin Staff at "The Wolds", Wentworth Estate. On 1 January 1941 the Advanced HQ moved to Storey's Gate, London SW1 and on 3 March 1941 the Rear HQ moved to Dormie House Golf Club, Sunningdale, Berkshire, where it was joined by the Advanced HQ on 13 March. It disbanded on 14 August with the operational squadrons being administered directly by HQ Army Co-operation Command until the Wings were formed on 22 August 1941.
Air Officers Commanding
25 Nov 1940 Gp Capt N L Desoer (SASO)
1 Dec 1940 AVM P C Maltby
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
No 72 (Army Co-Operation Training) Group
This was formed at Farnborough Court, Farnborough on 16 September 1942 within Army Co-operation Command to control the RAF Regiment training units. On 12 October 1942 it moved to South Farnborough and on on 1 June 1943 was transferred to Technical Training Command but was disbanded on 1 August 1943, with its Units being transferred to the newly formed No 22 Group .
Air Officers Commanding
28 Sep 1942 A/Cdre G B Dacre
2 - 7 Dec 1942 A/Cdre T C R Higgins (Temporary)
7 - 14 Jun 1943 A/Cdre T C R Higgins (Temporary)
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
This was formed at Sealand on 16 December 1940 in Fighter Command to control Fighter OTUs. It assumed control of Nos 54, 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 OTUs on 30 December 1940. On 19 February 1941 it moved to Tallow Hall/Municipal Homes, Worcester, then to Avening Court, Avening, near Stroud in Gloucestershire on 22 December 1941, being parented by RAF Aston Down. It finally disbanded on 20 April 1943 with its units being transferred to No.9 Group.
It Reformed at Watnall on 1 January 1952 in Fighter Command to control its training units, moving to Rudloe Manor, Box, Wiltshire on 16 June 1952, where it disbanded on 31 March 1958.
Air Officers Commanding
16 Dec 1940 A/Cdre F J Vincent
29 Jul 1942 A/Cdre W H Dunn
20 Apr 1943 - 1 Jan 1952 Disbanded
1 Jan 1952 A/Cdre L W C Bower
xx Jan 1954 A/Cdre C C McMullen
19 Feb 1954 Vacant
2 Apr 1954 A/Cdre H A V Hogan
15 Aug 1955 A/Cdre R C Mead
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
This was formed at 63 Somerton Road, Belfast on 1 August 1941 to provide for the air defence of Northern Ireland dockyards and, if necessary, Eire. On 13 September 1941 it moved to Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, where it was absorbed into RAF in Northern Ireland on 15 October 1942.
Air Officers Commanding
21 Jul 1941 A/Cdre G M Lawson
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
This was formed at Redhill on 1 April 1943 as No 83 (Composite) Group from 'Z' Group which had been formed on a temporary basis for Exercise Spartan but intended for service with AEAF/2nd TAF. Intended as a mobile unit it was initially located in the UK but moved to the Continent on D+1, 7 June 1944 and then moved forward, constantly following the advance of the ground forces through Northern Europe into Germany until it was absorbed by No 84 Group on 21 April 1946. The table below shows its movements during this period: -
Date | Advanced HQ | Rear HQ |
23 Apr 1943 | Gatton Park, Reigate | |
By 3 Jul 1943 | Detling | |
10 Oct 1943 | Gatwick | |
15.4.44 | Purbrook Heath | Hinton Daubney |
7 Jun 1944 | Graye-Surmer and then on to Banville | |
8 Jun 1944 | near Cruelly | |
3 Aug 1944 | Le Tronquay | |
11 Aug 1944 | Tracy-Bocage | |
26 Aug 1944 | Les Trinite des Laitieres | |
About 1 Sep 1944 | Epieds | |
2 Sep 1944 | near Grandvillers | |
3 Sep 1944 | Meantissart | |
7 Sep 1944 | Lombeke Ste Marie | |
9 Sep 1944 | Waterloo | |
12 Sep 1944 | East of Kessel | |
13 Sep 1944 | Hollebeke | |
xx Sep 1944 | Courtenbert | |
21 Sep 1944 | near Axel | |
1Oct 1944 | Dummelhuis Hotel, Eindhoven | |
10 Oct 1944 | Gemert, Eindhoven | |
11 Oct 1944 | near Castle of Holy Ghost, Gemert | |
20 Oct 1944 | St.Franciscus Schc Valkenswaard | |
10 Apr 1945 | Mettingen, near Ibbenburen | |
14 Apr 1945 | Lechtingen | |
22 Apr 1945 | Blickwedel, Wunstorf | |
24 Apr 1945 | Boye. nr Celle | |
26 Apr 1945 | B.152 Fassberg | |
28 Apr 1945 | Bispingen | |
6 May 1945 | Luneberg | |
7 Jun 1945 | Schleswig See | Schleswig See, ex Timmersloh |
15-31 Aug 1945 | Grove |
It reformed at Wahn on 9 July 1952 within 2nd TAF to control its southern area and disbanded on 16 June 1958.
It was reformed again on 1 April 2006 from the UK Air Component HQ at Al Udeid as No 83 Expeditionary Air Group.
Air Officers Commanding
21 Mar 1943 AVM W F Dickson
25 Mar 1944 AVM H Broadhurst
xx Sep 1945: AVM T C Traill
21 Apr 1946 - 9 Jul 1952 Disbanded
9 Jul 1952 ?
16 Jun 1958 - 1 Apr 2006 Disbanded
1 Apr 2006
xx xxx 2006 A/Cdre B M North
xx xxx 2006 A/Cdre C A Bairsto
xx xxx xxxx (2007) A/Cdre P Oborn
xx xxx xxxx A/Cdre M J Harwood
22 Aug 2008 A/Cdre A Barmby
22 May 2009 A/Cdre S D Atha
5 Feb 2010 A/Cdre K B McCann
xx Jan 2011 A/Cdre A D Stevenson
16 Dec 2011 A/Cdre S D Forward
xx Dec 2012 A/Cdre P J Beech
14 Dec 2013 A/Cdre A K Gillespie
xx Dec 2014 A/Cdre M E Sampson
xx Nov 2016 A/Cdre J J Stringer
xx Nov 2017 A/Cdre R J Dennis
xx Oct 2018 A/Cdre J S Reuter
21 Oct 2019 A/Cdre T T Jones
21 Oct 2020 A/Cdre S R Strasdin
xx Sep 2021 A/Cdre M J Farrell
xx Sep 2022 A/Cdre N S Thomas
xx xxx 2023 Gp Capt I Diggle
xx Nov 2023 Gp Capt H Bishop
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
This was formed at Cowley Barracks, Oxford on 15 July 1943 for service with 2nd TAF. By 24 July a Rear HQ had been formed at Slade Camp, Cowley. For the very beginning the Group was established to be mobile and was soon putting its abilities to the test, prior to moving to the Continent. Its advanced party eventually moved to the Continent on 6 July 1944, with the main body arriving on 8 August, from which point it moved forward, constantly following the advance of the ground forces through Northern Europe into Germany, where it absorbed No 83 Group on 21 April 1946 and disbanded at Celle on 15 December 1947. The table below shows its movements during this period
Date | Advanced HQ | Rear HQ |
21 Aug 1943 | Shotover Plain (for Exercise Columbine) | |
29 Aug 1943 | Milland Place, near Liphook | |
20 Sep 1943 | Sunderlandwick Hall, near Hutton Cranswick | Milland Place |
27 Sep 1943 | Slade Camp, Cowley | |
14 Oct 1943 | Headington Hill Hall, near Oxford | |
xx Oct 1943 | Hickleton Hall, nr Doncaster | |
16 Oct 1943 | Stoke Rochford Hall, nr Grantham | |
19 Oct 1943 | Ampthill PARK | |
22 Oct 1943 | Cowley Barracks | |
By 2 Jan 1944 | Headington Hill Hall: | |
1 Apr 1944 | Headley Court, near Leatherhead | |
22 Apr 1944 | Oakwood Park, Sussex | |
6 May 1944 | Boxhill (for exercise) | |
13 May 1944 | Goodwood Park, Chichester | |
23 May 1944 | Goodwood Park | |
6 Jul 1944 | Adv Party to Amblie | |
8 Aug 1944 | Amblie | |
20 Aug 1944 | Amblie | |
2 Sep 1944 | Franqueville | |
3 Sep 1944 | Brionne | |
6 Sep 1944 | Cremont | |
8 Sep 1944 | Pihem | |
26 Sep 1944 | Laethem St Martin | |
21 Sep 1944 | Hutte | |
1 Oct 1944 | Nachtegaelshoek, Antwerp | |
10 Oct 1944 | Hingene | |
30 Oct 1944 | Château du Horst | |
17 Nov 1984 | Chase Barracks, Breda | |
30 Nov 1944 | Naval Barracks, Breda | |
13 Dec 1944 | Tilburg | |
14 Dec 1944 | Zingbaan Zuid, Goire | |
By 2 Jan 1945 | Harenthal | |
xx xxx 1945 | s'Hertogenbosch | |
7 Mar 1945 | Grave | |
16 Mar 1945 | Velpe | |
18 Apr 1945 | Delden | |
21 Apr 1945 | Delden | |
By 25 Apr1945 | Institute des Securs Mediatric, 482 Chaussee de Court: Ghent | |
By 10 Jul 1945 | Scheuen | |
31 Aug 1945 | Brandenburg Barracks, Celle |
Air Officers Commanding
15 Jul 1943 A/Cdre T N McEvoy (SASO)
10 Nov 1943 AVM L O Brown
10 Nov 1944 AVM E C Hudleston
18 Mar 1946 AVM P E Maitland
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
The nucleus of this Group was formed in the Sports Pavilion, RAF Uxbridge on 17 December 1943 as No 85 Group for service with 2nd TAF. Its task was to provide Base maintenance facilities on the Continent for the Composite Groups supporting the 21st Army Group and air defence of the Base area, although in the initial stage of the campaign it would operate from the UK. It moved to Hillingdon on 6 January 1944, where it was renamed No 85 (Base) Group on 14 February, eventually moving to the Continent in August, where it was transferred to 2nd TAF on 12 August. On 12 October 1944 it was redesignated No.85 (Maintenance and Training) Group but was reduced to No 85 Wing on 1 July 1946. Whilst not a mobile unit it was transportable and followed the advance of the Composite Groups as they moved eastwards into Germany, it locations for this period are shown in the table below.
Date | Advanced HQ | Rear HQ |
By Mar 1944 | RAF Acklington | |
16 Mar 1944 | Blakelaw, Newcastle-upon-Tyne | |
17 Aug 1944 | Chateau Ste Roi St Croix | Blakelaw, Newcastle-upon-Tyne |
10 Sep 1944 | Chateau Ste Roi St Croix | |
4 Oct 1944 | Closed down | |
28 Sep 1944 | Institute des Secure Mediatrices, 482 Chausse de Courtrai, Ghent | |
By 10 July 1945 | Luftgau, Blankenese/Hamburg |
It reformed at Utersen on 1 December 1948 from No.85 Wing as the base Group HQ in BAFO but disbanded on 1 July 1950.
Air Officers Commanding
17 Dec 1943 ?
13 Feb 1944 AVM J B Cole-Hamilton
10 Jul 1944 AVM C R Steele
26 Apr 1945 AVM D A Boyle
12 Jul 1945 AVM A L Paxton
xx Jun 1946 A/Cdre L W Cannon
xx xxx 1948 A/Cdre C D Adams
1 Oct 1949 A/Cdre P Jones
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
This was formed at Hotel Monsigny, Rue Monsigny, Paris on 17 February 1945 to take over control of units previously controlled by HQ RAF Unit Paris as well as units in southern France. On 21 June 1945 the Advanced HQ moved to Château St.Leger, 29 Rue Alexandre, St Germaine with the Main HQ moving to Château le Lonche, Bougival, near Paris on 1 July. On 15 July 1945 it was renamed No 87 (Transport) Group, under the control of Transport Command and was reduced to No 87 Wing on 15 July 1946.
Air Officers Commanding
24 Apr 1945 A/Cdre A J M Akerman
5 Feb 1946 A/Cdre H N Thornton
This was formed at Kinnellan House, Murrayfield Road. Edinburgh on 7 May 1945 to take part in "Apostle" and "Doomsday" operations in Norway. An element left for Oslo on 12 May and the main element arrived at Gardermoen on 1 June, leaving a Rear HQ at Turnhouse. The Rear HQ moved Oslo on 8 June with the Norwegian units being disbanded on 20 November whilst the remainder returned to Dunsfold in the UK and began disbanding on 30 November, the process being complete by 31 December 1945.
Air Officers Commanding
7 May 1945 A/Cdre J A Boret
This was formed at Danesfield Court, Medmenham, Marlow on 24 April 1946, taking over the functions of No 26, 60 and 100 Group and No 80 Wing. On 3 November 1958 it was raised to Command status as HQ Signals Command.
On 1 January 1969 Signals Command at Medmenham was reduced Group status within Strike Command as No 90 (Signals) Group. On 1 September 1972 control was transferred to Maintenance Command and when this Command was disbanded it RAF Support Command it was redesignated Support Command Signals Headquarters on 31 August 1973.
Air Officers Commanding
25 Apr 1946 AVM E B Addison
15 Feb 1949 AVM R G Hart
1 Apr 1951 A/Cdre C A Bell
18 Jun 1951 AVM W E Theak
1 Feb 1954 AVM J G W Weston
1 Mar 1956 AVM L Dalton-Morris
3 Nov 1958 - 1 Jan 1969 Disbanded
1 Jan 1969
AVM L H Moulton
15 Feb 1971
AVM H Durkin
No 91 (Operation Training/Bomber OTU) Group
This was formed from No 6 Group at Abingdon on 11 May 1942 to take over control of a number of Bomber Command OTUs. On 14 April 1947 it moved to Morton Hall, Swinderby, where it was absorbed into No 21 Group on 1 May 1947..
Air Officers Commanding
11 May 1942 A/Cdre -AVM H S P Walmsley
8 Feb 1944 AVM J A Gray
1946 - 47 AVM F J W Mellersh
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
No 92 (Operation Training/Bomber OTU) Group
This was formed at Winslow Hall, Winslow on 11 May 1942 by renaming No 7 Group to take over control of a number of Bomber Command OTUs and disbanded on 15 July 1945
Air Officers Commanding
14 May 1942 A/Cdre H A Haines
11 Jan 1943 A/Cdre E A B Rice
17 Mar 1943 AVM H K Thorold
23 Feb 1945 AVM G S Hodson
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
No 93 (Operation Training/Bomber OTU) Group
This was formed at Lichfield on 15 June 1942 to take over control of a number of Bomber Command OTUs, moving to Egginton Hall, Eggington, Derby on 7 July and disbanded on 14 February 1945
Air Officers Commanding
15 Jun 1942 A/Cdre P E Maitland
25 Feb 1943 A/Cdre A P Ritchie
24 Feb 1944 AVM O T Boyd
9 Aug 1944 AVM G S Hodson
1 Nov 1944 ?
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
No 100 (Special Duties/Bomber) Group
This was formed as No 100 (Special Duties) Group at RAF West Raynham on 8 November 1943 to take control of Bomber Commands RCM and Support units. On 17 January 1944 it moved to Bylaugh Hall, East Dereham and was retitled as No 100 (Bomber) Group on 25 March 1944 and finally disbanded on 15 December 1945.
Air Officers Commanding
3 Dec 1943 AVM E B Addison (appointed 8 Nov 1943)
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
No 106 (Photo Reconnaissance) Group
This was formed at Fifield House, Benson on 14 April 1944 from No 106 (PR) Wing under the control of Coastal Command, the composition of the Group being: -
It disbanded on 15 August 1946 with the creation of the Central Photographic Establishment.
Air Officers Commanding
1 Jul 1944 A/Cdre D J Waghorn
16 May 1945 A/Cdre A W B McDonald
Listings of units and personnel controlled by this Group available in the Members' Area
This page was last updated on 24/08/24